Air header structural system for auger type poultry chiller

Abstract

A structural system for an auger type poultry chiller in which the air header and structural system are integrated together. A hollow box beam on the longitudinal upper edge of the housing of the chiller provides structural strength and ridigity to the housing. The box beam is airtight and the box beam is connected to a source of pressurized air so that the box beam also serves as an air header. Air hoses connect a series of connectors along the length of the box beam to inlets on the bottom of the chiller housing to introduce pressurized air to the chilled water to prevent clumping of the chilled poultry carcasses. The strength of the box beam air header allows the supports for the auger to be mounted directly to the top of the box beam. In order to provide mounting connections without sacrificing the airtight integrity of the box beam, one or more tubes are run vertically through the box beam at points of attachment for the auger support structure. Bolts run through the tubes fasten the auger supports to the box beam. Desirably, the tubes are slightly oversized so as to allow some adjustment in the longitudinal and transverse placement of the auger support. Furthermore, the location of the auger support on the top of the box beam allows the vertical placement of the auger support to be adjusted by the placement of shims between the auger support and the top of the box beam.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A combined structural support system and air header for an auger type poultry chiller having an auger mounted for rotation within a housing, comprising: an airtight box beam structurally affixed to a longitudinal upper edge of the housing comprising a top, a bottom, two sides, and two ends and having an essentially rectangular cross section;   means for supplying pressurized air to the interior of said box beam; and   a plurality of connectors communicating with said interior of said box beam, each of said plurality of connectors operatively connected at a hose; said hose operatively connected to an air inlet on the housing for the delivery of pressurized air to the interior of the housing.   
     
     
       2. The combined structural support system and air header of claim 1 further comprising at least one structural support for the auger; and wherein said box beam further comprises at least one tube affixed vertically through said box beam having an airtight connection to said top of said box beam and having an airtight connection to said bottom of said box beam; and   means for removably affixing said auger structural support to said box beam through said tube.   
     
     
       3. The combined structural support system and air header of claim 2 wherein said tube is sized to allow both longitudinal and transverse adjustment in the placement of said auger structural support with respect to said box beam. 
     
     
       4. The combined structural support system and air header of claim 3, further comprising means to vertically adjust the placement of said auger structural support with respect to said top of said box beam.